Restoring Peace by Kirk Blackard
Kirk goes to my church and is instrumental in the
Bridges to Life victim-offender program. Bridges to Life is a program in which proxy victims - those whose lives have been affected by crime - meet with offenders over a period of 14 weeks in a non-hostile environment and tell their stories. While a victim may not meet directly with the person who committed whatever crime against them, personally, they will meet with prisoners to discuss what crime has done to their lives.
For example: someone busted for trafficking drugs. It's a victimless crime, right? Perhaps the person busted has never assaulted or killed anyone. Well, they're paired up with a victim who's daughter was killed during a home-invasion robbery by someone looking for money to buy more drugs. They can show that the 'victimless' crimes definitely have victims.
Though the repeat-rate in Texas prisons is 78% (get out and are incarcerated again within three years), the graduates of this program show a repeat-rate of 23%. This is why I volunteer in prisons. To reduce the number of prisons in Texas - to make Texas safer - to share the mercy and grace I've received.
I should've been there, too.